Václav Král

police inspector · parachute teams’ helper

2 May 1891–24 October 1942

A Plzeň police inspector whose contact address helped Kubiš and Gabčík after their mistaken landing. He helped obtain false documents and later supported several parachute teams. The Nazis murdered him, his wife Pavla and daughter Helena in Mauthausen.

A contact that worked

Kubiš and Gabčík came to the Pod Záhorskem apartment on 30 December 1941. Král checked the password, received them and helped secure false identity cards and employment books.

When the pair needed a Prague contact, Král approached colleague Jan Bejbl, who knew Václav Růta. The connection led to their first Prague refuge in Biskupcova Street.

A Plzeň base for parachute teams

The Králs sheltered parachutists both in their apartment and outside the city. In April 1942 ANTHROPOID and OUT DISTANCE members met there to prepare support for a British raid on the Škoda works.

The family’s fate

After Čurda’s testimony, the Gestapo arrested Václav, Pavla and Helena Král on 17 June. They were murdered in Mauthausen on 24 October 1942.

Explore further

• The Král apartment

  his home and main place of assistance

• Nehvizdy

  assistance after the mistaken landing

• Mauthausen

  where the family was murdered

• Biskupcova 4

  the Prague refuge reached through Bejbl